EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
*hb0478*
HOUSE BILL 478
F4, E4 (5lr1062)
ENROLLED BILL
— Judiciary/Judicial Proceedings —
Introduced by Washington County Delegation
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at _________________ _______ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Hagerstown Community College Police Force – Jurisdiction 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing a Hagerstown Community College police officer to exercise 3
powers granted to a peace and police officer within Washington County under certain 4
circumstances; and generally relating to the Hagerstown Community College Police 5
Force. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Education 8
Section 16–407.1 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13 2 HOUSE BILL 478
Article – Education 1
16–407.1. 2
(a) There is a Hagerstown Community College Police Force. 3
(b) (1) A Hagerstown Community College police officer has the powers granted 4
to a peace and police officer. 5
(2) (i) [A] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 6
PARAGRAPH , A Hagerstown Community College police officer may exercise these powers 7
only on property that is owned, leased, operated by, or under the control of Hagerstown 8
Community College. 9
(ii) The police officer may [not] exercise these powers on any other 10
property [unless] WITHIN WASHINGTON COUNTY IF: 11
1. Engaged in fresh pursuit of a suspected offender; 12
2. Necessary to facilitate the orderly flow of traffic to and 13
from property owned, leased, operated by, or under the control of Hagerstown Community 14
College; or 15
3. Ordered to do so by the Governor; OR 16
4. IN WASHINGTON COUNTY WHEN : 17
A. RESPONDING TO AN IMMINENT THREA T TO LIFE, 18
PROPERTY, OR PUBLIC SAFETY ; OR 19
B. COMPLYING WITH A MEMO RANDUM OF 20
UNDERSTANDING BETWEE N THE HAGERSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE POLICE 21
FORCE AND ANOTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY W ITH JURISDICTION . 22
(c) (1) In consultation with the Secretary of State Police and the Maryland 23
Police Training and Standards Commission, the Hagerstown Community College Board of 24
Trustees shall adopt standards, qualifications, and prerequisites of character, training, 25
education, human and public relations, and experience for Hagerstown Community College 26
police officers, including standards for the performance of their duties. 27
(2) To the extent practicable, the Board shall adopt standards that are 28
similar to the standards adopted for the Department of State Police. 29
HOUSE BILL 478 3
(d) The Hagerstown Community College Board of Trustees shall adopt 1
regulations governing the operation and conduct of the Hagerstown Community College 2
Police Force and of Hagerstown Community College police officers. 3
(E) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION MAY BE CONSTR UED TO: 4
(1) SUPERSEDE THE AUTHORI TY OR JURISDICTION O F: 5
(I) THE WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERRIFF’S OFFICE; OR 6
(II) ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCE MENT AGENCY , AS DEFINED IN § 7
1–101(C) OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE; OR 8
(2) LIMIT THE AUTHORITY OR JURISDI CTION OF THE HAGERSTOWN 9
COMMUNITY COLLEGE POLICE FORCE AUTHORIZED UNDE R § 5–802 OF THE 10
CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE. 11
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 12
1, 2025. 13
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.